Picard Forces Geordi to Confront His Bias: A Leadership Reckoning
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Picard commands Geordi to make a greater effort to integrate and support Barclay, stating that he needs to 'get to know the man' and help him contribute, effectively rejecting Geordi's request to transfer Barclay.
Despite Geordi's protestations, Picard insists that his personal discomfort is irrelevant and dismisses him, stressing Geordi should put aside his feelings and work with Barclay.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Indirectly portrayed as vulnerable and misunderstood; Barclay's emotional state is inferred through the crew's discussion—his anxiety and isolation are framed as the root of the conflict, while his potential is overlooked. The subtext suggests a deep well of unmet need, both professionally and personally.
Barclay is not physically present in the scene but is the central subject of the discussion. His reputation, psychological profile, and social struggles are dissected by Picard, Riker, and Geordi, with the nickname 'Broccoli' serving as a shorthand for the crew's collective disdain. Barclay's absence is palpable—his character is constructed through the lens of others' biases, his potential overshadowed by their discomfort. The scene frames him as a victim of the crew's failure of empathy, his honorable service and past performance aboard the Zhukov contrasted with the present moment's judgment.
- • To be seen as a competent and valuable member of the crew, rather than a liability.
- • To find a way to integrate into the *Enterprise*'s culture without being defined by his social anxieties.
- • That his worth is tied to his ability to perform his duties effectively, despite his personal struggles.
- • That the crew's perception of him is unfair and rooted in their own biases rather than his actual capabilities.
Disappointed yet resolute; his frustration is tempered by a deep commitment to Starfleet's values and the growth of his crew. There's a quiet intensity beneath his composed exterior, revealing his investment in this moment as a turning point for Geordi and the crew.
Picard sits behind his desk, exuding quiet authority as he methodically dismantles Geordi and Riker's request to transfer Barclay. He begins by highlighting the unsatisfactory performance report on his computer screen, then shifts to a more personal confrontation, challenging the crew's collective bias. His tone is measured but firm, with a subtle undercurrent of disappointment. Picard's physical presence is commanding—leaning forward slightly when making key points, his gaze steady as he reframes the issue from a transfer request to a leadership imperative. His directive to Geordi—'Make him your best friend'—is delivered with unyielding clarity, leaving no room for negotiation.
- • To dismantle the crew's biases against Barclay and reframe the issue as a leadership challenge.
- • To hold Geordi and Riker accountable for their role in fostering a toxic environment, pushing them toward personal and professional growth.
- • That leadership requires confronting uncomfortable truths, even within one's own crew.
- • That Barclay's potential is being overlooked due to the crew's collective failure of empathy, and that this must be rectified for the sake of the ship and Starfleet's principles.
Slightly defensive and resigned; Riker is clearly uncomfortable with Picard's rebuke but accepts it without overt challenge. There's a hint of frustration beneath his composed exterior, particularly when his arguments are dismissed, but he ultimately defers to Picard's leadership.
Riker stands beside Geordi, initially supporting the transfer request with a mix of skepticism and defensiveness. He cites Barclay's psychological profile and suggests that Captain Gleason may have exaggerated his qualifications to secure the transfer. Riker's body language is cautious—he avoids direct eye contact with Picard during the more pointed moments of the rebuke, and his tone is measured but lacks the conviction of his usual confidence. When Picard challenges the crew's use of the nickname 'Broccoli,' Riker acknowledges its origin with Wesley Crusher but offers no defense, instead deferring to Picard's authority. His exit with Geordi is marked by a shared glance of resignation, signaling their shared discomfort with the outcome.
- • To justify the transfer request by highlighting Barclay's perceived shortcomings and the crew's discomfort with him.
- • To align with Geordi's perspective, reinforcing the idea that Barclay is not a good fit for the *Enterprise*.
- • That Barclay's social anxieties and awkwardness make him a liability to the crew's cohesion and efficiency.
- • That transferring Barclay is a pragmatic solution to an ongoing problem, and that Picard's opposition is overly idealistic.
Defensive and resigned; Geordi is clearly struggling with Picard's directive, his incredulity revealing the depth of his discomfort with Barclay. There's a sense of being cornered—his admission of aversion is tinged with shame, and his exit with Riker suggests a shared sense of helplessness in the face of Picard's expectations.
Geordi stands beside Riker, visibly uncomfortable as the conversation unfolds. He hesitates before admitting his aversion to Barclay, using the derogatory nickname 'Broccoli' with a mix of embarrassment and frustration. His body language is tense—crossed arms, shifting weight, and averted gaze—revealing his deep discomfort with the topic. When Picard reframes the issue as a leadership challenge, Geordi's reaction is one of incredulity, his smile tinged with disbelief as he questions the feasibility of Picard's directive. His exit with Riker is marked by a shared glance of depression, signaling their shared sense of defeat and the weight of Picard's expectations.
- • To justify his discomfort with Barclay and the need for a transfer, framing it as a practical solution to an ongoing issue.
- • To avoid direct confrontation with Picard while still making his case, relying on Riker's support for validation.
- • That Barclay's social awkwardness and anxieties make him difficult to work with, and that his presence is a distraction to the engineering team.
- • That transferring Barclay is the simplest and most effective way to resolve the tension he creates within the crew.
Not directly observable, but implied to be casual or even dismissive; Wesley's role in popularizing the nickname suggests a lack of awareness of its impact, or a willingness to engage in the crew's collective teasing.
Wesley is mentioned in passing as the originator of the 'Broccoli' nickname, which has become ingrained in the crew's culture. His role in the scene is indirect—his actions are referenced by Riker, who acknowledges the nickname's origin but offers no further commentary. Wesley's involvement is symbolic, representing the crew's collective tendency to reduce Barclay to a caricature, reinforcing the theme of their shared failure of empathy.
- • To fit in with the senior crew by adopting their tone and humor, even if it comes at the expense of others.
- • To reinforce his place within the crew's social hierarchy, potentially at Barclay's expense.
- • That teasing or nicknaming is a harmless way to bond with the crew.
- • That Barclay's social awkwardness makes him a fair target for such behavior.
Not directly observable, but implied to be confident and principled; Gleason's endorsement of Barclay suggests a belief in his abilities, and his absence from the scene underscores the Enterprise crew's failure to uphold similar standards.
Captain Gleason is referenced indirectly through Picard's recollection of his endorsement of Barclay's service aboard the Zhukov. Gleason's role in the scene is as a symbolic counterpoint to the Enterprise crew's biases—his positive assessment of Barclay serves as evidence of Barclay's potential, contrasting with the present moment's judgment. Riker's suggestion that Gleason may have 'buttered their bread' introduces a layer of skepticism, but Picard's invocation of Gleason's endorsement lends weight to Barclay's case, framing the transfer request as a moral failing rather than a pragmatic solution.
- • To champion Barclay's potential, as evidenced by his honorable service aboard the *Zhukov*.
- • To set a precedent for mentorship and growth, aligning with Starfleet's values.
- • That every crewmember deserves a chance to prove themselves, regardless of social anxieties or initial perceptions.
- • That leadership involves recognizing and nurturing potential, even in the face of skepticism.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The computer screen on Picard's desk serves as a silent but potent symbol of institutional judgment. It displays Barclay's unsatisfactory performance report, which Picard uses as a starting point to dismantle Geordi and Riker's transfer request. The screen's glowing text becomes a visual anchor for the conversation, its crisp, impersonal data contrasting with the emotional and psychological nuances of the discussion. Picard's gesture toward the screen—'I'm not accustomed to seeing an unsatisfactory rating for one of my crew'—frames the report as evidence of a larger failure, not just of Barclay, but of the crew's ability to integrate and support him. The screen's role is functional (providing data) and narrative (symbolizing the crew's collective bias).
Reginald Barclay's performance report is the initial spark for the confrontation, displayed on Picard's computer screen. The report's 'unsatisfactory' rating is the starting point for Riker's skepticism and Geordi's admission of discomfort. However, Picard quickly dismantles its significance, using it not as evidence of Barclay's failure, but as a symptom of the crew's collective failure to integrate him. The report's contents—detailed in the scene as 'poor evaluation' and 'sharp glances'—become a catalyst for Picard's rebuke, forcing Geordi and Riker to confront their biases. Its role is functional (providing data) and thematic (symbolizing institutional judgment and the crew's complicity in Barclay's isolation).
Barclay's psychological profile is referenced by Riker as evidence of his 'seclusive tendencies' and long-standing social struggles. The profile is invoked to justify the transfer request, framing Barclay's anxieties as a liability rather than a challenge to be met. Picard, however, reframes the profile's contents as a call to action—evidence not of Barclay's unfitness, but of the crew's failure to support him. The profile's role is dual: it is both a tool for Riker to argue against Barclay and a mirror held up to the crew, reflecting their own shortcomings. Its mention is brief but impactful, serving as a catalyst for Picard's challenge to Geordi and Riker.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Picard's ready room serves as the neutral ground for this high-stakes confrontation, its sterile and confined space amplifying the tension between the characters. The room's formal setting—Picard behind his desk, Riker and Geordi standing before him—reinforces the hierarchical dynamics at play, with Picard as the ultimate authority. The ready room's intimacy forces the crew to confront their biases in a controlled yet pressure-filled environment, turning the space into a crucible for accountability. The room's atmosphere is one of quiet intensity, with Picard's measured tone and the crew's defensive postures creating a palpable sense of unease. The ready room's role is both practical (a space for private discussions) and symbolic (a stage for leadership challenges and moral reckoning).
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Starfleet's values and principles are the invisible but potent force shaping this confrontation. Picard invokes Starfleet's commitment to mentorship, accountability, and the growth of its personnel, using these ideals to challenge the crew's biases against Barclay. The organization's influence is manifested through Picard's leadership—his insistence that the crew uphold Starfleet's standards of empathy and support. Starfleet's role in the scene is to serve as a moral compass, guiding Picard's rebuke and reframing the issue from a transfer request to a leadership imperative. The organization's presence is felt in the crew's collective discomfort, as they grapple with the gap between Starfleet's ideals and their own actions.
The crew of the *Enterprise* is the collective entity whose biases and failures are laid bare in this scene. Their complicity in Barclay's isolation is symbolized by the nickname 'Broccoli,' which has become ingrained in their culture. The crew's role in the event is to serve as the target of Picard's rebuke, with Geordi and Riker acting as representatives of the broader group's discomfort with Barclay. Their collective failure of empathy is the central theme of the scene, and Picard's challenge is directed at the crew as a whole, not just the individuals present. The crew's internal dynamics—marked by teasing, exclusion, and a lack of support—are exposed as the root cause of Barclay's struggles.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Picard rejects the transfer request and tasks Geordi with mentoring Barclay. Geordi begrudgingly gives Barclay a complex task to solve the drinking glass mystery, showing a forced attempt to mentor Barclay that stems directly from Picard's orders."
"Picard insists that Geordi put aside his feelings and work with Barclay. Barclay then retreats into a holodeck fantasy with Holo-Troi's encouragement to embrace love, truth and joy, demonstrating Barclay's coping mechanism after feeling misunderstood and dismissed."
"Picard insists that Geordi put aside his feelings and work with Barclay. Barclay then retreats into a holodeck fantasy with Holo-Troi's encouragement to embrace love, truth and joy, demonstrating Barclay's coping mechanism after feeling misunderstood and dismissed."
Part of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"PICARD: I'm not accustomed to seeing an unsatisfactory rating for one of my crew. RIKER: I guess the issue is whether Mister Barclay is Enterprise material. PICARD: ((to Geordi)) I assume from your request for his transfer that you don't think he is, Commander..."
"GEORDI: I hate to say it... I always thought I could work with anyone... but I just can't stand the guy. Broccoli makes me nervous... he makes everyone nervous... PICARD: Broccoli? RIKER: Young Mister Crusher started it. I'm afraid it's caught on. PICARD: Let's get it uncaught, shall we?"
"PICARD: He's on your team. Manage him. Pull him in. Find ways to help him make a positive contribution. Get to know the man. Make him your best friend. GEORDI: With all respect, sir... my best friend? I can barely tolerate being in the same room with the man... PICARD: I suggest you put your personal discomfort with him aside, Commander. Dismissed."